Clasp for hand-bags.



F. l. QUIGAN.

CLASP FOR HAND BAGS.

APPLICATION man JUNE 12. 19!].

Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

UNITED STATES PAENT,

FRANK J. QUIGAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,v ASSIGNOR TO SIMON ZINN INC., A

I CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. I

CLASP FOR HAND-BAGS.-

Application filed June 12, 1917.

hie-ans for preventing the accidental opening of the bag. It has for one of its ob ects the provision of a clasp locking means characterized H p gluing, riveting and the like.

by simplicity of construction and efficiency operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a locking means which in one position will permitthe clasp to be closed, but prevent its opening after once being closed.

A special object is the provision'ofa clasp. or locking means so constructed as to becapablc of mounting substantially all of the parts thereof upoirthe exterior surfaces of the frame members of a bag, thus keeping the portionsto which thebody of the bag is secured free from obstructions which would otherwise be present if the operating parts of the locking means were located on the exterior surfaces of the frame members.

Other objects of the invention have to do with various features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and defined by the appended claims.

Vhile I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiments of my invention, I do not want to be limited to the precise details of construction illustrated, as changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of th'e Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 35 1918.

Serial No. 174,177.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation withthe locking means functmnmg.

Fig. i is a similarview with the locking means rendered ineffective; and a Fig. is a modification'of the locking means shown in the other figures.

In the hand bag shown in the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the body of a hand bag provided with a frame 2, having sections or hinged membersB and L. Each of the hinged members-is U-shaped in crosssection, and is likewise U-shaped in general configuration ternnnating in end extensions adapted to be pivoted together. The frame members 3 and t are secured to the body of the bag in any suitable. manner, such as Each of'the members 3 and dis provided with a resiliently mounted knob member 5, said latter members being adapted to cooperate with each other in such a manner as to constitute what is ordinarily known as a knob clasp. The knobs 5 and their mountings form no part of the invention and may be made in any well-known manner. The locking means for holdingthe frame members 3 and 4 together, when. closed, may comprise a resilient member (3 secured to the top surface of the frame member 4, and positioned transversely thereof. One end of the member 6 is flush with the exterior face of the frame member 4, and the other end terminates in a projecting convexly or" downwardly curved portion 7, which extends sufficiently far so asto coiiperate with'a rotatably mounted stud'or member 8. The'stud S isprovided with a collar 9, which forms the latch abutment, preferably formed integral therewith and adapted to contact with the exterior edge of the frame member 3. The journaling of the stud 8 in the frame member 3 is effected by'the collar'portion 9 abutting upon one side thereof and having the inner end of the stud spun over on the exterior surface. The exterior or projecting portion 10 of the stud 8 is provided with an aperture into which is fastened an actuatmember 11, which may be of any conventional or ornamental configuration. The collar 9 has a portion 12 thereof removed so as to fit flush with the upper surface of the frame member 3 when the stud is suitably rotated. The location of this removed surface may be determined by the desired mos.

positioning of the actuating member 11. In Figs. 1 to l it has an angular displacement of 180 relative to the actuating member 11 so that said member may occupy a vertical position relative to the frame member 3 vvhen the locking mechanism is rendered inetfective by the removed collar portion 12 coming opposite the resilient member 6. The actuating member 11 may be provided vvith a suitable notation, such as "open" to indicate to the ()WHEI of the bag that the locking means not functioning. It obvious that by rotating the stud S by means of the actuating member 11 the if time membcrr's 3 and it may be held locked or unlocked together. Also. that the resilient member 6 mav engage the collar 9 when its active or locking surface is in position for engage n'ient therewith, thus permitting the automatic operation of the locking means When in a given position While requiring the manual manipulatitm thereof to permit the opening of the bag.

A modification of the stud 8 comprising a part of the locking means is shown in Fig. 5. in this modification the collar 9 is provided \vith tvvo o mositel disposed inactive or removed surfaces 12, which are joined by a corrcspozuling number of active surfaces. This form of construction permits the unlocking of the frame members 3 and l h v rotating the actuating member 90. it the same time it fin'nishes an automatic indiaition to the person carrying the bag as to the condition of the locking means. 2'. if the actuating member if \"erticall dis posed, it will indicate that the bag locked, whereas if it were turned out of the vertical position it would be an indication that the locking mechanism not functioning. The latter condition would very likely be brought to the owners attention because when the actuating member 11 approaches a horizontal position, it is very apt to become an obnoxious obstruction,' and this feature would attract the'attcntion of the ovvner.

While I have described my invention vvith reference to the specific embodiments shown, it is obvious that various changes in detail might be made Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A, clasp for hand bags comprisii'ig a pair of frame members pivoted to one an other at one end and adapted to fold against one another at the other end, a resilient latching plate secured to the free end of one of said pivoted members and disposed to extend across the free end of the other pivoted member when the members are folded against one another, and an abutment. having a portion disposed to coope 'ate with said latching mcmbe' when the pivoted members are folded against one another, said abutment being pivotallv mounted on Said other pivoted mcmber in order to permit said portion to be moved into or out of engagement with said latching member.

2. A clasp for hand bags comprising a pair of frame members pivotallv connected to one another, a latching plate secured to the free end of one of said frame members and disposed to extend across the free end of the other frame n'iember when the frame members are folded against one another. an abutment pivotally mounted on that face of said other "rame member which removed rom the lirstancntioncd frame member. said abutment having an active portion disposed to coiiperatc with said latching plate when the pivoted frame members are folded against one another, and said latch plate bein f of sutlicicnt are: to form a guard for the operation therewith.

3. A clasp for land bags comprising a pair of frame members pivoted to one anothe at one end and adapted to fold against one another at the other end, a resilicnt latching plate secured to thefrec end of one of said pivot-ed members and having a corn cave portion extending across the free end of the other pivoted member when the members are folded against one another. and an abutment having an active portion disposed to cooperate with said concave portion when the pivoted menmers are folded against one another. said abutment being pivotallv mounted on the exterior of said other pivoted member.

FRANK J. QUIGAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

